By Katy Mariotti

Jesus Is With Us

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10, English Standard Version

Have you ever felt like you were in survival mode?  Sometimes in our lives we can be mindful, make conscious decisions, and really take our time to savor the blessings God has given us.  But survival mode is something else.  Survival mode is when it’s all we can do to just make it from one step to another during the day.  Maybe it’s because something unexpected has happened in our lives.  Maybe it’s because we are so busy that we’ve overbooked our days.  Maybe it’s because we have something life-changing that upends everything.  Or maybe it’s all those things at once!

When I’m in survival mode it can be completely overwhelming.  I don’t have time to rest or to breathe.  I had a couple days like this recently, and I was so at my wit’s end that I was on the verge of tears constantly.  I felt like I was barely surviving, hence the term “survival mode.”

Around this time I was reading books to my baby, a fun activity because he is showing interest in them for the first time.  I happened to pull out a “Baby’s First Bible” book and read a few pages to him.  I realized that I had barely thought about God at all during my difficult time.  One of the sentences in the book said “Jesus is always with us in our hearts.”  I looked up some verses in my own Bible and loved this one from Isaiah.  Not only does God promise to be with us, but He promises to strengthen and help us.  In times that are difficult, when we’re in survival mode, whether it be for a couple days or for much longer, He is with us.  Even when we forget.  Jesus Himself said:

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b, ESV

I praise God for being with us and lifting us up always!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado